Cabinet Committees

John Key has announced the Cabinet Committees. Very pleased to see the Ministers from support parties are full members of appropriate Cabinet Committees. That’s a far more professional arrangement than the nonsense under Labour when the Foreign Minister wasn’t even a member of the Cabinet Foreign and Defence Committee.

So what are the committees:

Cabinet Strategy Committee – chaired by the PM, this determines the key strategic direction. The members are the nine front bench Ministers plus McCully and Joyce. The inclusion of Joyce is a good indicator of the influence he has, despite being a first term MP.

Cabinet Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee – chaired by Finance Minister Bill English. 16 Ministers on it, so I suspect the real decisions will be made within a tighter circle. A bit surprised Rodney Hide is not a member as Regulatory Reform Minister.

Cabinet Social Policy Committee – chaired by Health Minister Tony Ryall and covers health, welfare and education.

Cabinet Domestic Policy Committee – chaired by Justice Minister Simon Power and covers law & order and state services.

Cabinet Committee on Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations – chaired by PM John Key as a mark of his commitment to progressing these.

Cabinet External Relations and Defence Committee – chaired by Foreign Minister Murray McCully

Cabinet Committee on Domestic and External Security Co-ordination – chaired by the PM and meets as required. It is rarely good news if it meets!

Cabinet Expenditure Control Committee – chaired by Finance Minister Bill English. A very small committee with just seven Ministers including Rodney Hide and Steven Joyce. They have a lot of work ahead!

Cabinet Legislation Committee – chaired by Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee. Works out the Government’s legislative agenda. Lots of lawyers on it.

Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee – chaired by PM John Key. Heather Roy and Tariana Turia on the committee as well as 11 National Ministers.

Cabinet Business Committee – chaired by PM John Key. Seems to be an Executive Committee of Cabinet that can make decisions in between regular meetings. The nine frontbench Ministers only.

Comments (25)

Login to comment or vote

Add a Comment